18 APRIL 1914, Page 2

In reply to questions by Mr. Amery and Mr. James

Hope, Mr. Asquith stated that he saw no sufficient grounds for instituting a judicial inquiry into circumstances connected with the recent contemplated military operations in Ulster and with the resignations and reinstatements of General Gough and other officers. General Gough bad received no notifica- tion of the Government's repudiation of the Army Council's assurance, and Mr. Asquith did not think such notification was necessary. He also denied that any howitzer batteries were moved or were under orders to be ready to more. A question by Mr. Clough elicited from Mr. Bonar Law an explicit denial of the allegation that communication, whether by telegram or letter, bad taken place between himself or any member of the Unionist Central Organization and the Cerragh. The printed replies to other questions put by Mr. Amery furnished cumulative evidence of the extensive nature of the military operations contemplated. The facts are being dragged from the Government piecemeal. As we say else- where, a full and frank statement at the beginning would have been much better received by the country.